Primary structure of monkey osteocalcin.

The complete 49-residue amino acid sequence of osteocalcin from the old world monkey Macaca fascicularis has been determined by efficient combination of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Edman techniques. This vitamin K dependent protein of bone matrix contains three gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues at positions 17, 21, and 24, as well as a disulfide-bonded loop (23--29). Features of the sequence which apparently are required for the binding of Ca2+ have been strongly conserved throughout evolution.